By Chip Pitts, KERA 90.1 Commentator
Dallas, TX – In "Democracy in America," de Tocqueville said he knew of "no country, where the love of money had taken stronger hold on the affections." But unlike Europe, America stood out above all because of its commitment to democracy and equality, as opposed to aristocracy. Throughout our history, the forces of public interest (like the founders) have vacillated with those of private interest (like the Gilded Age robber barons and their captive millionaire Senate).
But increased money in politics has moved us away from democracy and back toward a plutocracy: government of, by, and for the rich. The President, VP, and secretaries of defense, commerce, state and treasury are each multimillionaires many times over. It now costs about a million dollars to run for the House; and at $7.5 million to run for the Senate, no wonder half its members are millionaires. Three-fourths of political contributions come from that small percentage of Americans making over $200,000 a year. Meanwhile, voices of minorities and the poor are silenced. And voter participation has decreased to half in Presidential elections, a third in Congressional, and a fifth in primaries. Our representative democracy is no longer either representative or a democracy.
Public policy suffers as monied interests displace the public interest. Enron's Ken Lay - Bush's largest contributor - got the deregulation he wanted. Taxpayers picked up the fraud's hundred billion dollar tab, just as they did with the savings and loan scandal over a decade earlier. Other recent policies are just as revealing: deregulation of powerful polluters and broadcasters; huge tax cuts benefiting the richest; and an Iraq war resolution with supporters receiving twice as much from the defense industry as opponents.
Since incumbents aren't about to change the system that almost guarantees their re-election, only grassroots citizen outrage and pressure can do so. Two reform goals are key.
First, six states already have clean election laws - voluntary public financing systems that provide matching funds to candidates who agree to limit contributions and spending. Candidates must also refuse corporate and PAC money, and collect a qualifying number of small contributions. These laws were achieved from bottom-up citizen action. As a result, ordinary citizens can again compete for and win office in this country, resulting in less corruption and more quality candidates and governance.
Second, some free radio and TV would give the electorate truths they need to hear instead of platitudes they may want to hear. The public airwaves belong to us, and broadcasters' licenses should be conditioned on such public airtime.
Campaign finance reform is a paramount issue today because it affects all others. To resist plutocracy and restore democracy, the time to begin to take action is now.
Chip Pitts is an international lawyer and businessman based in Dallas.